(MY) leatherbacks extinct

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Thursday August 10, 2006 - The Star

 

Leatherbacks are not extinct

 

*KUALA TERENGGANU:* The leatherback turtle population has declined

drastically, but the turtle was not extinct in Malaysia, according to the

Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec).

 

Tumec head Kamaruddin Ibrahim said yesterday that the endangered leatherback

could still be seen landing and nesting on the shores of Terengganu.

 

" It is correct when one says the population of the leatherback has declined

drastically ... but the turtle has not become extinct, " he told *Bernama* in

refuting a United Nations Environment Programme report from Bangkok that the

leatherback was effectively extinct in Malaysia.

 

Kamaruddin said that in 2003, 14 leatherback nesting places, with 1,083

eggs, were detected. In 2004, five nesting places with 295 eggs were found

and last year, one nesting place with 90 eggs was seen.

 

" This year, we found five nesting places with 336 eggs of two leatherback

turtles, " he said.

 

Kamaruddin said the discovery of the nesting places was evidence that the

leatherback was not extinct in the country.

 

He also said that Tumec had released almost 500,000 leatherback hatchlings

into the sea since 1961 and that many of these are most likely to return to

nest on the shores of Terengganu.

 

Tumec was also taking steps to protect and conserve the leatherback by

conducting patrols along the coast and sea, including ensuring that they

were not trapped in fishermen's nets.

 

The patrols have resulted in the seizure of 17 nets of fishermen, including

three in Rantau Abang and Kampung Jambu Bongkok near Marang yesterday, he

said.

 

Kamaruddin said the state government had indicated its commitment to ensure

the survival of the leatherback with a RM200,000 allocation to Tumec this

year for conservation of turtles in Terengganu.

 

" Tumec will also support any endeavour at the international level to save

the leatherback in Malaysia, " he said. – Bernama

 

 

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Thursday August 10, 2006

 

Penang jumping onto the turtle bandwagon to lure tourists

 

*PENANG:* Penang is jumping onto the turtle bandwagon and wants to draw

tourists the way Terengganu is doing.

 

For the first time, tourists and locals may be given the opportunity to

witness the releasing of turtle hatchlings into the sea in Teluk Bahang.

 

State Tourism Development and Environment committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow

said the turtle sanctuary there would be a new tourism product for the

state.

 

" We hope the releasing of the turtles can be carried out this year, " he told

*The Star* yesterday.

 

" However, we will seek the opinion of conservationists to ensure the move

does not have any adverse impact.''

 

Teng said he would meet officers from the Rantau Abang-based Turtle and

Marine Ecosystem Centre next month to get their views.

 

He said there were plans for the hatchlings to be released from Pantai

Kerachut, which is located within the Penang National Park.

 

He said personnel from the National Park and Fisheries Department were

monitoring the nesting sites along the 250m-long beach round-the-clock.

 

Among other things, he said, it was to prevent the eggs from being stolen.

 

" We have even shifted the camping site in Pantai Kerachut further up the

jungle to ensure visitors do not disturb the turtles, " he added.

 

" We have even turned down requests from campers to witness the turtle

landings despite their fervent plea. "

 

Teng said there was enough legal protection for the nesting sites in Pantai

Kerachut, as it was part of the national park.

 

It was reported that 42 turtle nests were detected in Teluk Bahang last year

compared with 59 the year before, 47 in 2003 and 38 in 2002.